Saturday, January 21, 2012

Raila Odinga sister, Charged with Fraud

lawyer representing a sister of the Prime Minister has written to Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko, saying his client had been cleared over allegations of misappropriating funds.

Mr Mugambi Imanyara said Ms Beryl Okumu Odinga, a sister of PM Raila Odinga, had neither been asked to appear in court nor informed of the charges, contrary to reports she failed to make an appearance leading to her being summoned.

“If in fact she had been informed of these accusations, this matter would never even have gone to court since she lawfully received the funds as imprest for expenditures in her capacity as chairperson of the Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme,” said Mr Imanyara.

He said an audit had cleared Ms Odinga and that there was no point at which any irregularity occurred or the amount that was due remained outstanding.

As such, there was no basis for any prosecution to take place, he argued. (READ: Railways board boss Odinga set to face fraud charges)

Not been informed

The DPP confirmed receiving the letter, saying he had not been informed that the matter was settled when the charges were brought up.

Mr Tobiko said he had written to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to confirm if the amount in question was accounted for before withdrawing the case.

Ms Odinga was summoned to appear in court on January 24 to answer charges of unlawful acquisition of public property after she failed to appear alongside three others charged with abuse of office.

She was accused of unlawfully acquiring Sh1.5 million on various dates between March 2009 and January 2011.

Her co-accused, Mr Mathews Kipchumba Tuikong, Mr Ephantus Muriithi Githui and Ms Caroline Nkitore Nyororo, on Tuesday denied the charges and were released on a cash bail of Sh400,000 each or alternative personal bond of Sh1 million and a surety in similar amount.